I want to tell you all about an interesting "tourism" option here in Statesboro. Last year, I wrote an article about Pladd Dot Music owner Chris Mitchell opening a 7,500-square-foot manufacturing facility for amplifiers and guitars just off U.S. Highway 301 North.

This coming Friday, Farmers and Merchants Bank will host a reception for Ricky Nessmith, who is retiring from day-to-day operations of the bank at the end of this year. Nessmith is an experienced banker whose career in the field of banking and finance has spanned more than 44 years.

When I decided to run for mayor this past August, I knew my relationship with the Statesboro Herald would change and it did. For almost 10 years, I had written an "Inside Bulloch Business" column each week as well as a business news story.

Savannah-based Vaden Automotive Group is partnering with humane societies in southeast Georgia for the next several weeks, launching its "Doggone Great Deals" campaign, which is focused on raising money and collecting "wish list" items for humane societies in five locations.

Since falling under a Consent Order issued by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in February 2012, Statesboro-based Farmers & Merchants Bank has made significant strides in addressing regulator concerns and returning to profitability.

The former location of Snooky's Restaurant is undergoing demolition and major renovation making way for a new Verizon franchise store slated to open October 1. This will be Wireless One Management, LLC's ninth Verizon franchise store, and its first in Statesboro.

With more than 300 friends and family in attendance, Eagle Creek Brewing Company played host to a "Friends and Family Tour Tasting" event celebrating its first round of product distribution into the market place.

Gary Cooler began his career with Sears while in high school in 1971, delivering merchandise for its catalogue store in Beaufort, S.C. Cooler is celebrating his 42nd year with the company, and the 20th anniversary of the Statesboro Sears Hometown Store which he opened in 1993.

Savannah entrepreneur Greg Parker said he is excited to bring what he describes as a progressive vision of convenience stores to the Statesboro market. Slated to open in mid-July, Parker purchased and is renovating the former Neighbor's convenience store next to Applebee's on Highway 80 East.

Great Dane recently completed production of Celadon Group's first refrigerated trailer, part of a 200-reefer order being built in Great Dane's newest manufacturing facility, located in Statesboro's Gateway Industrial Park.